Wamarra acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we work, live and socialise. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who we recognise as Australia’s First Peoples whose cultural practices continue today.
Late in 2025, Wamarra gathered at the Defence Establishment Myambat for a significant cultural heritage ceremony that reinforced what it means to work the right way — on Country, with respect and alongside community.
The day was led by Uncle Tim from the Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, who conducted a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, followed by the reburial of cultural artefacts uncovered during works. These moments are never treated lightly at Wamarra. They are an opportunity to pause, listen and acknowledge the deep cultural responsibility that comes with working on Country.
We were joined by our clients; the Department of Defence, project partners, and Wamarra team members, reflecting the shared commitment across the project to put cultural heritage protection front and centre.
During the ceremony, Hayden Heta, Managing Director, spoke about the importance of preserving Aboriginal cultural heritage — not just as a compliance obligation, but as something far deeper. Protecting artefacts, stories and sites strengthens identity, supports community wellbeing and maintains vital connections to Country and ancestors. It ensures stories, songlines and knowledge continue to be passed on to future generations.
Two proud Wamarra employees, Dayne Hancock and Jason Cooper, both Aboriginal men, played a hands-on role in the reburial of the artefacts under Uncle Tim’s guidance. Their involvement was a powerful reminder of why Wamarra prioritises local Indigenous employment and participation — because cultural knowledge, lived experience and connection to Country matter.
The day also reflected Wamarra’s belief that respect shows up in actions, not just words. From ensuring Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies are part of how we begin work, to recruiting local Indigenous talent, engaging Indigenous subcontractors and embedding culture into our everyday environment — including the naming of our meeting rooms — these commitments are lived across our projects.
The Myambat project itself has been a success by any measure, including strong outcomes for Indigenous participation, local employment and hours worked on Country. It also aligns with the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) and Defence’s ambitions to support Indigenous businesses, demonstrating what’s possible when intent is matched with action.
This work wouldn’t have been possible without the people backing it. We’re proud to be delivering this project with the Department of Defence’s Capital Facilities and Infrastructure (CFI) branch, and Aurecon as PMCA. They have enabled the project to be in a great position, and provide genuine opportunities to the Indigenous community.
To finish the day, the Wamarra team fired up the barbeque — sharing food, conversation and time together. A simple but important reminder that relationships sit at the heart of everything we do.
A big thank you to our project team for ensuring cultural heritage protection remains front of mind, not as a checkbox, but as a responsibility we carry together. We look forward to continuing our work with CFI, Aurecon, and the broader GWEO program, and to walking respectfully on Country wherever our projects take us.
